Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 167 i WellBeing

Let’s celebrate. A little celebration is in order because in a “post-truth” world it’s easy to become disenchanted. “Post-truth” was the Oxford Dictionary’s 2016 word of the year and refers to political arguments that ignore facts and rely on emotions. You can see why post-truth was chosen as the emblem of 2016 and you can also see why some fall into despair as “the system” seems so broken. I understand that melancholy but I’d say to you that, even in a post-truth, Trumpian, Brexiteer world, the human spirit remains resplendent. In evidence, I offer up two examples. Recently I was in a meeting, in a boardroom and we were trundling along with a discussion when someone offered a lessthan- expected “Eeeek!” We all paused to consider the deeper implications of…

MEDITATION CONTROL These researchers wanted to know whether someone who is not naturally mindful can enter into a state of mindfulness just by a decision to do so or by deliberate focused effort. To do this, they gathered subjects who were females and had not previously practised mindfulness meditation. The subjects were assessed to establish if they were naturally mindful or not. Then the subjects took part in either an 18-minute guided mindfulness meditation or a language-learning presentation. Immediately after the meditation, the subjects were shown disturbing images and instructed to view them either “mindfully” or “naturally” before completing a questionnaire. Regardless of whether they were naturally mindful or not, after meditation the subjects were able to control emotions to the same extent and were able to recover faster (showing…

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis or Euphrasia rostkoviana) has been well regarded as a cure for all eye maladies and is used extensively in Europe, North America, Western and Northern Asia. It’s an annual semi-parasitic plant that for its nourishment relies on the roots of other plants (particularly grass). Growing to about 30cm high, it has elegant purple or white-and-purple-veined flowers and is in the foxglove family (Scrophulariaceae: a genus containing about 450 flowering plants). The lovely name euphrasia is of Greek origin and related to Euphrosyne, the name of one of the three graces who was known for her joy and mirth. The name means “gladness”. Eyebright has a long history of use in the treatment of eye problems, well before the first written record in 1305 in Gordon’s Liticium Medicina.…

What was your mum’s initial vision for Janesce? Has her vision changed over time? During the 1960s, my mum began studying the connection between health and the skin, general wellbeing and the link it had to lifestyle habits. From the beginning, Mum believed nutrition was the key. She also believed that the plant kingdom provided all the nutrition for the health and vitality of skin and body. Mum has told me that the 1960s were a time when yoghurt, brown rice and wholegrain products were not available in the supermarkets. The notion of “eating for the health of your skin” was a new concept and foreign to popular belief of beauty treatments. However, once Mum began treating skin disorders through nutrition at her naturopathic/beauty clinic, more people began to give…

How happy are you feeling in your life at the moment? Would you love to know how to keep your mood up even when faced with difficult situations? There is no doubt that events and situations happen from time to time that challenge the level of calm and joy you feel in life. The latest in neuroscience research, however, shows you may have far more control over your happiness than was previously thought. You can increase the feel-good chemicals circulating in your brain and start feeling more energised, motivated and inspired about your life. The key “happy chemicals” that regulate and boost your mood are dopamine, serotonin, endorphin and norepinephrine. While each of these chemicals affect your mood differently, they each play a part in how happy or unhappy you…

Wellbeing is balance. When your life is out of balance, dis-ease can be the result, not just physically but also emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually. One way to find balance again is to zoom your lens out a bit so you can view the bigger picture of your life and gain a better and more accurate look at your current state of wellbeing. Going “big picture” and identifying where the imbalances in your life exist allow you to take action. And these actions don’t need to be huge overnight changes because often it’s the small, gentle, daily changes that produce the best results. Taking an aerial view of your life is also empowering as it allows you to realise that most of the elements for great health and personal fulfilment…

Living dairy-free is one of the best choices for me when it comes to maintaining optimal health. When I was a kid, I suffered from a few digestive issues and regularly experienced skin sensitivities such as itching and rashes. I had frequent breakouts right into my 30s but, to be honest, never really identified the cause. In fact, until I started eating in a paleo way a few years ago, I assumed many of my skin and digestive issues were a result of external factors. Yet when I eliminated refined sugars and removed inflammatory foods — such as dairy — within just a few months I noticed significant changes. My skin cleared up and my digestive issues simply disappeared. During this time, I also took tests for dairy sensitivities. It’s…

Low libido is common among men and women. Poor health and low energy levels are definitely contributing factors, however poor sex drive can be a complex problem due to many different factors, including anxiety, depression, thyroid and hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, circulation and cardiovascular problems, menopause or having just had a baby, being overweight or drinking too much alcohol. Certain medications such as antidepressants, the pill and hypertensive drugs can also cause low libido. Yet there are ways to get your sex drive up and active again. LIBIDO INFLUENCERS Thyroid health A well-functioning thyroid is important for a healthy sex drive. An underfunctioning thyroid can lead to low energy levels and an increased risk of depression, weight gain and poor libido. An easy way to see if your thyroid is…

Libraries are everywhere. And who doesn’t love a library — a place that provides countless opportunities to explore and immerse yourself in books? But libraries are more than just books. As temples of knowledge and information, they serve the community in various ways. In today’s dynamic environment of rapid technological changes, libraries are the single most trusted source of information. As a public space, a library is an area that’s open and accessible to all. Libraries are community spaces for people to come together to learn, relax and rejuvenate. It’s in libraries that social interaction grows and user experiences are enriched in both physical spaces and through various services and activities. In this way, libraries ensure that community wellbeing is enhanced by promoting peace and harmony in the society. CREATING…

We moved into a new house last year. It’s a gorgeous old Victorian home with a quaint front porch. Yet every time I entered the house I felt flat. I should have felt excited, as it was a dream of ours to own an older home. But our front garden was overgrown and full of weeds and the porch itself was badly in need of fresh paint. The feng shui lover in me knew how important the entryway to the home is and, as soon as spring arrived, I resolved to give the front garden a makeover. A good foundation is essential when applying feng shui, even in the garden, and often the first step to enhancing the chi or life force in a space involves a thorough declutter. When…

DVDS THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS DIRECTED BY DEREK CIANFRANCE STARRING MICHAEL FASSBENDER, ALICIA VIKANDER THE CONFIRMATION DIRECTED BY BOB NELSON STARRING CLIVE OWEN, JAEDEN LIEBERHER MAHANA DIRECTED BY LEE TAMAHORI STARRING TEMUERA MORRISON, AKUHATA KEEFE Once again, three very different films make family their theme. In the period romance The Light between Oceans, a traumatised veteran of the Great War signs on as a lighthouse keeper on a rock off the coast of Western Australia. Tom and his young bride Isabel begin a blissful, if isolated, life on the stormswept island but she proves unable to carry a pregnancy to term. While they’re still grieving over Isabel’s second miscarriage, a rowboat washes ashore carrying a dead man and an infant girl. Against his soldier’s sense of duty, Tom allows Isabel…

ULTIMATE TAN Uni Organics’ Ultimate Tan self-tanning cream will provide you with a gorgeous sun-kissed colour without sun damage or harmful chemicals. This lightweight formula provides a streak-free finish, has no nasty fake tan smell and is safe for sensitive skin. Finalist in the Australian Organics awards this year. W: uniorganics.com.au BENECOS Natural and cruelty-free cosmetic brand Benecos has created a unique makeup line that is affordable without sacrificing on quality or trends. Containing natural and organic ingredients, the extensive range provides an array of colours to suit everyone. W: bioliving.com.au SYNERGY SKIN A hydrating antipollutant spritz to protect against infrared damage and fight freeradical activity. One daily spray of Enviroshield will detoxify the skin, chelate heavy metals and shield the skin from airborne particles present in environmental pollution. RRP…

CARLA OATES is a natural beauty expert and the author of Feeding Your Skin. You need only 10 minutes daily of sun exposure on your face and arms to get your daily dose. Feeling the sun on your skin is a simple pleasure. And it can be addictive: studies show that the sun’s ultraviolet radiation releases feel-good hormones called endorphins. Sun exposure also helps your body produce vitamin D, which is actually a hormone essential for good health, healthy skin and immunity. This fat-soluble “sunshine vitamin” also helps you absorb calcium to form and maintain healthy bones. Vitamin D has beneficial effects on moods, immunity, diabetes and glucose metabolism, heart health, hypertension and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. It has also been linked to the prevention of some cancers. Yet…

You can grow your own perfect tomatoes with these 10 top tips. 1. Plant them! And, yes, I know you may not have a garden. That is no excuse whatsoever. Buy a vast hanging basket and hang it in a sunny window, on your patio or by your sunny back door. If you live in a block of flats and this will make your tomato crop available to the neighbours, too, think of it as helping generosity flow across the world, beginning with your tomato plant. But, if you want at least some for yourself, make them prolific cherry tomatoes so, hopefully, passers-by will only eat two or three rather than strip the vine. Try a cherry tomato in a pot in your office by a sunny window and offer…

JAN McLEOD is a highly respected coach, mentor, speaker and consultant and a specialist in the areas of high performance, wellbeing, nutrition and change strategy in the workplace. W: thecapacity equation.com.au, madforhealth.com.au Resilience underpins your ability to maintain a steady state of wellbeing because it is resilience that enables you to adjust, adapt and respond. Our purpose here is to help you be more energised, engaged, empowered and purposeful at work. So let’s talk about a big topic: the concept of wellbeing balance. Wellbeing refers to the quality of your emotional, physical and mental wellness. Wellbeing balance describes a scenario where these three elements are in the correct proportions and you are able to maintain them in an ongoing steady state. WHAT DOES WELLBEING BALANCE MEAN? There are, of course,…

I walked into the doctor’s office and she stood up from behind her desk. Without a word, she walked to me with tears in her eyes. I knew it; I just felt it in my heart but I was praying that she wasn’t going to speak the words I didn’t want to hear. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “You have stomach cancer.” My life changed forever that day. Indigestion and reflux had been plaguing me for months but, at 39, I never imagined it would be something so sinister until a gastroscopy revealed a 6cm tumour in my stomach. I had never known anyone who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, let alone survived. It seemed as though history was about to repeat itself. I had lost my father to…

FROM THE EDITOR Inspiration dragged its toes this issue; in fact, it’s a wonder you’re reading this at all. You see, in this very ordinary life I lead, I was searching for something spectacular to share. Something brainy like, oh, I don’t know, Einstein’s theory of relativity perhaps. Or something earth-shattering, like a scoop on the final jigsaw piece of research needed to improve the health of thousands. Or even just something small, like the witty and wise words that flowed from history’s great writers and thinkers. But nothing so grandiose awaits you, friend, for the inspiration that finally arrived was ... bubbles. After being blissfully unaware of what a bubble-free existence I’d been living, bubbles appeared not just once but twice in the space of a week. And they…

WORK-LIFE BALANCE AFFECTS LATER-LIFE HEALTH In this study, the researchers wanted to see if the effects of mid-life sleep deprivation and long working hours might affect physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in later life. To do this, they monitored the HRQoL of 1527 businessmen born between 1919 and 1934. Data on the men was gathered in 1974 and again in 2000. The researchers defined “normal” work hours as being 50 hours per week and “normal” sleep as being 47 hours per week. The results showed that those who had long work hours and short sleep in mid-life had lower scores for physical function, vitality and general health later in life versus those who had normal work and sleep patterns. So working more than 50 hours per week…

While Prunus domestica is the most common plum used, a prune is a dried plum of any of the 1000 or so varieties available worldwide. Prunes can be used in cooking for both sweet and savoury dishes and have even been made into a highly alcoholic drink similar to cider, called jerkum. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS Prunes are high in phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, sorbitol and both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre (7 per cent). This fibre contains a significant amount of the prebiotic inulin and pectin. Prunes are high in the potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory compounds (anthocyanidins), giving them the highest antioxidant capacity of any dried fruit, and a range of vitamins (particularly vitamins B6 and K) and minerals (potassium, manganese, boron and magnesium). THERAPEUTIC USES Gastrointestinal…

ANITA DYER W: anitadyer photography.com Photography for me is about seeing and capturing everyday life in a different light. When I have my camera, I see every tiny little detail. I see beauty in things I never thought could be beautiful. It’s a creative outlet for me and I enjoy the emotions I feel when capturing people and places. I love photographing landscapes, architecture and everyday life. I have spent the past 15 years travelling to far-flung places in search of something different. I keep going back to the Lofoten Islands in Norway, where this photo was taken. It’s up above the Arctic Circle, an incredible mountainous archipelago; so isolated and intriguing. Little Blue Shack, Lofoten 531×796.1cm, photograph Are you an amateur artist and would you like to see your…

It’s fun and a little bit cheeky — and it’s different. It may also appear to be a younger woman’s domain, but a short survey of 16 pole-dance studios across the country revealed that more and more women in the over-40s age bracket are taking up pole dancing. In those 16 pole studios alone, at least 200 women in this age group currently attend pole-dancing classes. These are women from all walks of life including mums, businesswomen and academics. They have taken notice and they’re signing up. Pole-dancing women have discovered that this sport not only delivers an excellent all-over body workout but also offers many unexpected and highly desirable benefits that simply keep them coming back for more. These are exciting times for women when something as “controversial” as…

In Australia, food is plentiful and seems to be everywhere you turn. What with all the produce, brands and products stacked high on the shelves, you may feel rich with choice, yet if you scratched beneath the surface you would realise this is an illusion. It doesn’t matter which chook you buy — free range, organic or otherwise — practically all Australian meat birds are one of two hybrids. If you shop for eggs from the supermarket, chances are they came from one of four producers. Things don’t get better in the fruit bowl: of the 7500 varieties of apples, only eight are commercially available. Diversity is disappearing in the system that delivers food from the field to your fridge; there’s rationalisation and consolidation in every link of the chain.…

What we know as cinnamon is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree which, when dried, rolls into a tubular form known as a quill. With its unmistakable fragrance, it’s available in either its whole quill form (cinnamon sticks) or as ground powder. It’s a spice that comes from the branches of wild trees that belong to the genus Cinnamomum — native to the Caribbean, South America and Southeast Asia. While there are about 100 varieties of Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) and Cinnamomum aromaticum (Chinese cinnamon) are the two leading varieties consumed. Ceylon cinnamon is most commonly used in the West and is produced in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. Cassia cinnamon, or Chinese cinnamon, originates from southern China and is mainly produced in China,…

Yoga and the way it can positively affect mental wellbeing has been closely examined by psychologists as well as the media for decades. Results from a number of studies demonstrate many of the numerous therapeutic effects, benefits and profound healing powers of yoga. Recognition of yoga as a tool to specifically promote body image, however, still leaves many people perplexed. Yet the body-confidence-giving effect of yoga is a growing phenomenon. Ask anyone who has been practising for some time and they will tell you that a more positive body image is definitely a by-product of the practice. In fact, there are now countless studies that show yoga to be a powerful therapeutic tool in the treatment of eating disorders. “PANDA BEAR” VS “SHINING KNIGHT” Many people are uneasy about the…

If you had to nominate your child’s favourite toy, food or rock/indie band, you would probably be able to reel off all the names within a femtosecond. But what about what your child has been thinking and feeling? Today, yesterday, last week and last month? Do you even have a clue? Do you really know what’s going on in your child’s world? What issues and topics are trending for them at the moment? When asked these questions, many parents are surprised to realise they are stuck for answers. Although we spend a lot of time in the physical presence of our kids, that doesn’t mean we’re tuned into them — at all. Ensuring that we are more intimate and plugged in to who they are, where they’re at and what…

It’s 5.30am and I can’t feel my toes, despite wearing boots, thermals, a down jacket and a beanie. It might be spring-warm in other parts of Australia, but here in the centre of our desert continent it’s five degrees — and feels colder to me, having just left the warmth of a four-wheel-drive to stand on a low sand dune called Tali Wiru. It’s a vantage point with horizon views in every direction, interrupted only by the silhouettes of a few spindly desert oaks. “Where’s Uluru?” someone asks. Our guide, Sonia, points to where it should be, but the famous shape is hard to make out in the half-light. Not that it matters. Unlike other sunrise tours where the objective is capturing Uluru in the day’s first rays, this Indigenous-run…

Carla Oates, author of the wonderful cookbook The Beauty Chef and founder of the natural beauty company sharing the same name, is passionate about health and nature and the intricate synergies we share with it. As you’d gather from her WellBeing columns, Oates believes beauty is more than just skin deep; it comes from within — from the gut, to be precise. In her book, she shares more than 150 delicious and nutritious recipes that feed your skin, your gut and your family. Plus, there’s a comprehensive list of beauty nutrients, a glowing kitchen guide and basic cooking tips and tricks. Oh, and we must mention those photographs! Healthy food has never looked so pretty and inviting. You’ll find a small extract of her beautiful recipes here but The Beauty…

Move over, cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles; sweet potato toast is a new breakfast trend that’s dominating the foodie world and one that is sure to delight the palates of gluten-free foodies everywhere. It’s the best thing to hit the toaster since sliced bread — and far more interesting and nutritious. Sweet potatoes are versatile vegetables. They can be added to baked goods, mashed and coupled with steamed veg, baked as a healthy alternative to fries and now can even be used as a delicious gluten-free alternative to bread. Sweet potatoes are complex carbohydrates, meaning the natural sugars that give them that rich, sweet flavour will release a consistent flow of energy into the body all morning. They also help to facilitate digestion and have antiinflammatory properties chiefly due to…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney. T: +61 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au Off ering foods that are packed with healthy chemicals, over a period of time, may slow or even prevent disease in our pets. You can’t escape the concept of superfoods these days. A superfood is simply defined as a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and wellbeing. Nutrition is not only important for providing essential carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals for growth and maintenance but may also promote health or help prevent chronic disease. DNA is surrounded by a layer of protein called the epigenome, which helps control gene expression. The epigenome can be responsive to environmental influences — including food — to either switch on…

Drug-resistant superbugs are a threat not only to our future wellbeing but even now, according to the United Nations. Right now on planet Earth, these bugs are directly linked to 50,000 deaths every year in Europe and the US, current data shows, and that would be a conservative estimate. These figures don’t include Asia, Africa and South America. As the key players in this health crisis are physicians, patients who demand inappropriate antibiotic treatments and farmers administering antibiotics to fatten the livestock we eat, the pressing need to change behaviours appears to be directed at those who are either unaware of or unconcerned about this mounting catastrophe. So dire is this problem and so urgent the need to act that on September 21, 2016, global leaders were summoned to the…

CONVERSATION POINTS ▪ The best way to start your Monday is upside-down. #downwarddog #yoga @rebootyourmood ▪ Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud. #ernest6words #sixwordstories @ernest6words ▪ Possessions come and go. Enjoy. Release. Play. Only love remains. Trust. Love. Stay. #ShineOn #Love @MyPowertalk ▪ It would be nice to wake up and read the paper, watch the news, go on social media and only hear good, peaceful and happy news in the world. @krystallynxox ▪ I think I’m going to take a loooong relaxing therapeutic bath with some nice aromatherapy oils. #selflove #selfcare @GypsyRosesxo ▪ Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future. @YogaLoveSpirit WE ASKED: WHAT DO YOU LOVE…

NARWHAL GPS Analysis of some of the first recordings of wintering narwhals showed that they may have the most directional sonar of any species. To get a baseline of narwhal sonar and its use, the researchers recorded narwhal echolocation beams at 11 pack-ice sites in Baffin Bay, West Greenland, in 2013. Hydrophones were placed at depths of between three and 18 metres. The recordings showed that narwhal clicks are the most directional sonar signal of any species, which may help to reduce echoes from the water or sea ice surface. The researchers also determined click intensities and found that narwhals scan vertically with sonar during ascents and descents. The data gathered in this study might be used to distinguish narwhal sonar from that of belugas, the Arctic’s other toothed whale.…

I’m lying in the dark, trying to decipher what animal the didgeridoo rumbling at my feet sounds like. Do its guttural tones resemble the thump and spring of a kangaroo or the deep thrumming of a bullfrog in the wet season? I catch my mind drifting and draw it back to this most amazing of sensations: my body humming, dissolving; music from the didge, its two brothers and a complement of three singing crystal bowls and three gongs flowing through my soles and reverberating in, around and through me. Here, inside this purpose-built, tepeeshaped “sound chamber” on the western fringe of Australia, time seems suspended. The symphonic sound is dense and shifts and moves like the ocean, the voice of each instrument swelling then subsiding — now the didge, now…

At 24, Shannon Harvey was living the dream, working in her ideal job for the national broadcaster as a radio news journalist. As they say in the classics, she had the world at her feet: a career bringing the latest news and issues to the world. Having always dreamt of being a journalist, little did she know that while that dream role with the ABC was about to get a major shake-up, her passion for sharing the truth with the world was going to take an even bigger stage. “I was in my early 20s and I’d just landed my first job in my dream career,” Harvey recalls. “I had big plans and I thought I was on my way. And then, suddenly, that all came crashing down when I…

It started with a seemingly innocuous comment here, a verbal barb there, and slowly gathered momentum until Kelly struggled to get out of bed to make the daily commute to work. Kelly was the victim of bulling at work, an issue in the workplace that can leave victims feeling powerless, frightened and very alone. Workplace bullying is a serious issue — the Australian Workplace Barometer report by Safe Work Australia states bullying rates stand at 6.8 per cent, much higher than global rates, which show levels of around 1–4 per cent. The cost of bullying bears a hefty price tag. In real terms, it equates to eroded workplace relationships and a toxic workplace culture and it can have dire consequences on victims and others who witness the bullying behaviour. So…

Genetically modified (GM) foods have now been in Australia and New Zealand for roughly 20 years, but many consumers remain mistrustful. Factors include lack of consumer choice driven by weak labelling, cosy relationships between GM companies and some governments, the patenting of seed, chemical interests of the biotech giants and the spectre of corporate control over the food supply. In the mid-90s, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GM soybeans — a variety designed to withstand multiple applications of the company’s top-selling herbicide — appeared unannounced on the market. They were soon joined by cotton, canola and corn. Regulatory agency Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved every GM food application that it has ever received and, rather than carrying out its own testing, it instead relies on the data supplied by…

Your lips are an important part of your body. They play a vital role in speech and pronunciation. You use them to eat and drink, blow out candles and suck through a straw. Whistling and playing certain musical instruments would be impossible without them. Lips are made up of a large number of nerve endings you use as part of your sense of touch to identify hot and cold. Your lips are also one of the most sensual parts of the body — a special sensory organ used for kissing as well as playing a role in sexual attraction and beauty. Lip health can often be neglected. Dry and cracked lips can paint a bigger picture of inner health; they can suggest a nutritional deficiency, dehydration or a medical condition…

“Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. It is a beauty of things unconventional.” ~ Leonard Koren, Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers The Japanese concept of wabisabi is about appreciating the imperfections. It’s an important term to embrace, not just in daily life — imperfection is part of the human condition, after all — but also when sewing and crafting, as there will always be mistakes in anything handmade. You might accidently sew the fabric pieces upsidedown, there may be puckering along the seams, your embroidery stitches might be crooked and the cuddly teddy bear you make may end up looking more like a fire-breathing dragon! But could these “mistakes” be blessings in disguise? Would anyone other…

Eclipses are some of the most visually stunning and dramatic celestial events that astrologers watch. There are different types of eclipses, from tiny partial eclipses to complete or total eclipses, where the entire sun or moon is blocked for a period of time. Historically, eclipses were considered, like all sky omens, to be a message from the gods. These messages were traditionally thought of as warnings. A historical note on eclipses cites a passage by the astrologer Geoffrey de Meaux: “For when the Sun is directly opposite the Moon, then the power of each of them reaches the earth in a straight line, and the mingling of influences of Sun and Moon with that of the superior planets creates a single celestial force.” We know more about the cause and…

Thailand has some of the world’s top wellness retreats where you can take a healthy holiday. The natural warmth, grace, hospitality and patience of the Thais, who are largely Buddhist, make it the perfect place to undergo a detox, yoga, weight-loss or destress program, check in for a general wellness program or explore Eastern modalities such as Ayurvedic medicine. Here’s our pick of the best Thai retreats. Most are located on the island of Koh Samui, which has in the past few years become a true wellness hub. KAMALAYA The first thing you notice on arrival at Kamalaya is the warm energy and beautiful feel of the place. It feels the way the world should. Kamalaya was built around a former Buddhist monks’ cave, used by monks for hundreds of…

CHEEKI Cheeki’s new range of insulated water bottles makes it even easier to say, “No, thank you” to toxic disposables this summer. Reuse and refill a Cheeki bottle and coffee mug with pride and keep them with you for life. W: cheeki.net.au ENDEAVOUR COLLEGE Study a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine with Endeavour. Nutritional medicine examines how diet affects health through the balance of macro and micro nutrients. A degree allows you to pursue a career as a clinical nutritionist. W: endeavour.edu.au MARTIN & PLEASANCE COMFREY CREAM Comfrey is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine for the relief of sprains, swelling and bruises. This smooth, paraben-free cream absorbs easily into the skin and comes in a clear glass jar that sits neatly in your bathroom cupboard.…

Nature Care College has been transforming lives through learning since 1973. With its 44-year reputation as Australia’s leading provider of natural therapies education, Nature Care College offers the most diverse range of courses within the industry in: ▪ Nutrition ▪ Food Coaching ▪ Natural Health & Wellness ▪ Western Herbal Medicine ▪ Ayurvedic Healing ▪ Homoeopathy ▪ Massage ▪ Sports Therapies ▪ Aromatherapy ▪ Reflexology ▪ Transpersonal Life Coaching ▪ Counselling ▪ Meditation Facilitation ▪ Energetic Healing ▪ Reiki ▪ Astrology ▪ Continuing professional education classes ▪ Plus hundreds of short courses and workshops Below are just a few of the many reasons to transform your life through learning with Nature Care College. TRANSITION INTO A CAREER YOU LOVE OR LEARN SOMETHING NEW Whether you want to take a new…

How do you feel after a day out in nature versus a day at the computer? One makes you feel far better than the other, right? So, while the evidence might be still very much contested out there in science land, there’s no doubt that, with the research done to date, we should approach electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure with caution and smarts. These words aren’t to alarm, simply to explore the topic, look at possible health effects according to the research, identify common exposures and give you tips for reducing exposure in your day-to-day. According to the many researchers in the field, we must reduce our exposure levels to EMFs, especially in Australia and the US, where “safe” limits of wireless technology exposure are up to a million times higher…

PISCES With Neptune in your sign for five years now, you renew your spiritual and emotional agendas when Neptune joins the Sun in Pisces — this time on Mar 2. Mar 7, 11 & 15 add extra feeling depths, boosting the need to articulate your healing quest. Solutions magically appear Mar 6–9; Mar 12–13’s Full Moon and Mar 18 can stress relationships: critical feedback is unwise. By contrast, Apr 6–16 is dynamic and you spread your financial wings from Apr 24 to mid-May. ARIES Lover Venus in Aries goes “retro” Mar 4 to Apr 15 and you hide your inner glow under much work until Mar 25–30. Then Venus energy shines, sweetening Aries New Moon Mar 28. Since your ruler Mars also pushes for productivity, New Moon will have a…

KAREN BRIDGMAN is a naturopath who has worked as a private practitioner at Pymble Grove Health Centre and Australian Biologics Testing Services for 30 years. She has been an academic and has a Doctor of Philosophy, researching women’s experience in (and with) medicine, along with three Masters degrees in Science (Hons), Higher Education and Applied Science. Humans are incredibly complex and rarely fit into textbook “cases”. This gentleman was exactly that. Seeing patients in a busy clinic and sorting out their health problems often feels like being in the middle of a detective story. Humans are incredibly complex and rarely fit into textbook “cases”. Take this gentleman, for example. His symptoms were embarrassing, to say the least: he was having great difficulty controlling his bowel movements — to the point…

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO It’s been a travelling couple of months for us WellBeing folk, with ed assistant Kate flying off to South America with her yoga mat in tow and editor Danielle popping across to Australia’s west coast for a look-see. Even editor-in-chief Terry’s had the travel bug, heading over to the UK and Europe for some quality family time. Here are a couple of scenic snaps from Perth, WA, of Rooftop Yoga where you can flow with flamingos (left) and Echoes sound meditation centre. Where will your itchy feet take you this year? WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU February 1–29, AU Heart Research Month heartresearch.com.au February 4–28, Victoria, AU Sustainable Living Festival slf.org.au February 10–12, Tasmania, AU Festivale festivale.com.au February 17–19, Canberra, AU Health, Harmony & Soul…